Formation of artificial filaments, yarns, or threads



May 10, 1938. c, HUT I 2,116,660

FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, YARNS, OR THREADS Filed July 22, 1936PMF INVENTOR ggnf ield Hufson 9% M W ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1938UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS,

YARNS, OR THREADS tion of Delaware Application July 22, 1936, Serial No.91,816

9 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial filaments, yarns or threads andtheir formation by the extrusion of spinning solutions through jets,nozzles or other spinning orifices into a solidifying medium.

An object of the invention is the formation. of artificial filaments oryarns having a regular or irregular change in denier. A further objectof this invention is the formation of filaments or yarns which have anirregularity in denier, such as a period of small denier, then. a slubof large denier and then another period of small denier, in which theyarn in the period of small denier is of substantially uniform denierand contains no thin places. Other objects of the invention will appearfrom the following detailed description and drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same orsimilar elements of the respective views;

Fig. l is a front elevation of an artificial yarnspinning device withmeans to vary the denier of the yarn as it is formed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a part of the deviceshown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a section of yarn formed in accordance withthis invention.

Artificial yarn having slubs of irregular denier therein has been formedby many types of de- 30 vices. These yarns, however, have not beenentirely satisfactory as the devices heretofore used to form such yarnsproduced extremely thin places in that section of the yarn having thesmall denier. These thin places so weakened the 5 yarn thatinterruptions, due to breakage of the yarn, occurred during the spinningthereof or during the subsequent textile operations. These extremelythin places were also reflected in weak spots or undesirableirregularities in fabrics 40 formed from the yarns. By employing myinvention, however, there may be formed artificial yarn having asubstantially uniform denier in the section of small denier with orwithout a varying denier in the thick portion or slub. Also, by

45 employing my invention, the change from small denier to the slub orlarge denier may be relatively abrupt in comparison with prior methodsof forming this type of yarn.

In accordance with my invention, I form fila- 50. ments or yarns ofartificial silk or the like which have a substantially uniform denierover a majority of their length, but having at regular or irregularintervals a change in denier, or slub, creating a thick place in thefilament or yarn 55. by drawing the yarns at a substantially uniformlinear speed for a period of time in the course of their production andthen interrupting the drawing action so as to stretch them uniformly atdesired intervals and effecting little or no stretch at other intervals.The varying stretch imparted 5 to the filaments or yarns results in. acorrespondingly varying denier, the variations occurring at any desiredintervals and to any desired degree while extending any desired amountalong the length of the filaments or yarns. This variation 10 of denieris accomplished by a device which draws the filaments at a substantiallyuniform linear, speed for a period of time, then periodically andabruptly reduces the drawing action on the filaments and then slowlylengthens the path fol- 15 lowed by the filaments from the forming jetto a winding, or twisting and winding device.

The portions of large denier or slub of the yarn may appear at regularshort or regular long intervals along the length of the yarn or atregularly or irregularly varying intervals. Also, the denier of the slubor large denier portion may vary in degree or extent or both. Or, one ormore groups of variations may appear in regular sequence, or in anydesired order or at any desired intervals. Thus, for example, one ormore short variations may alternate with one or more long variations, orgroups of short or long variations may alternate with short or longvariations, or with other groups of short and long variations. Or, theregularity or sequence of the large denier portion or slub may be brokenup such that the periods of large denier appear at random along thelength of the yarn. The latter method of spacing the slubs, or largedenier portion, minimizes the possibility of the yarns producing a woodgrain effect when woven into fabric. It will be understood that whereyarn, or thread is formed by the association of a number of filaments,all of which have a regular or irregular change in denier and whichchange is similar forall the filaments at a cross-section of the yarn,there will be produced a cumulative effect in the change of denier ofthe yarn at that cross-section. When yarns are formed of substantiallycontinuous filaments, there will obviously be the same number offilaments at the larger denier periods as at the smaller denier periods.

Yarns or threads, which have received changes in denieras abovedescribed, may be wound or twisted and wound, for example, by means ofcapspinning devices, or centrifugal boxes.

The filaments of varying denier may be formed into yarns, either aloneor twisted or doubled with threads of other natural or artificialfilaments or fibers. Or, they may be cut or reduced to staple lengthseither continuously with their production or subsequently thereto, andspun into yarns, either alone or mixed or blended with other natural orartificial filaments or fibers, and such spun yarns may, if desired, betwisted or doubled with the same or other yarns to form any desired typeof threads.

Yarns or threads with irregular denier having a substantial twist imparta novel effect to fabrics or articles wholly or partially formed fromthem by reason of the differential effect produced by the variation ofdenier and amount of twist at the various intervals of varying denier.This effect may, moreover, be enhanced when the fabrics or articles aredyed, printed or otherwise colored because of the differential ofpenetration of the dyestuif or other coloring matter, and of thedifferential in luster between tightly twisted small denier intervalsand the intervals of large denier with little or no twist.

The yarns or threads of varying denier may be applied to the productionof fabrics or articles either alone or in association with yarns orthreads of uniform denier artificial silk or of other natural or otherartificial filaments or fihers and may be utilized to give any desireddesign or pattern. They may be used, for example, in the warp and/ orweft in weaving operations, in knitting operations, for instance, in theproduction of warp knitted fabrics, in circular knitting machines, inbraiding or cording operations, in net or lace-making operations, or inany other fabric-forming or textile operation.

While the invention applies particularly to filaments or threads ofvarying or irregular denier, produced by the dry or evaporative method,and especially to filaments or threads having a base of celluloseacetate or other cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose formate,cellulose propionate or cellulose butyrate, thiocarbamic oralkoxy-alkacyl esters of cellulose, methyl, ethyl or benzyl cellulose,or the condensation products of cellulose and glycols and otherpolyhydric alcohols, it applies likewise to filaments or yarns ofvarying or irregular denier produced by the wet or coagulation method,whether it has a base of cellulose or bases of reconstituted celluloseproduced by the viscose, cuprammonium or nitrate processes.

As an aid in describing the invention, the same will be described withreference to the drawing wherein there is shown a device constructed inaccordance with this invention. The device cooperates with a spinningcabinet I which may be equipped with any suitable number of spinningjets, ducts for supplying and withdrawing evaporative atmosphere,guides, and heating or cooling elements. The exact construction of thespinning cabinet or metier is not shown since it can be any one of thedevices used in the formation of artificial silks and like materials.The spinning cabinet may contain any suitable number of spinning jets,each jet having any suitable number of orifices. Each spinning jet orset of spinning jets forms a yarn having a plurality of filaments, whichyarn is drawn from the cabinet or metier.

In normal spinning on a device of the type shown in the drawing, theyarn 5 leaves the spinning cabinet or metier at a port 2 and passesaround a drawing roll or feed roll 3 through a guide 4 and on to atake-up winding, or twisting and winding device, such as a cap-spinningdevice, ring twisting device or centrifugal box.

If desired, the yarn 5 may be led from the port 2 over a wick, roller orother furnishing device for coating the yarn with such material aslubricants, conditioning agents, etc., and then through a guide and onto the feed roll 3. The formation of yarn in accordance with thisinvention differs from the normal method of spinning yarn in that theyarn, after it leaves the spinning cabinet I passes through guide eyes8, one of which is provided for each port 2 of the spinning metier. Eachof the guide eyes 6 is fastened to the lower end of a supporting rod 1.The supporting rods 5, which are adapted to reciprocate, are guided bypassing through suitable bearings 8 in an angle iron 9. The rods 1 areattached to a cross-head II which is attached to a piston rod l2 throughany suitable type of bracket such as the one shown at l3. The piston rodI2 terminates in a piston I l operating in a cylinder I5. By operationof the piston, the cross-head II with the attached supporting rods andguide eyes is reciprocated in a vertical path.

Suitable means are provided for the purpose of operating the piston I 4.To this end there is provided an electric motor H5 or other suitablepower device which, through a belt or chain I1, drives the drive wheelI8 of a speed-changing mechanism IS. The speed-changing mechanism maycontain creeping gears, elliptical gears, or it may consist ofoppositely disposed cone pulleys or other means of causing a variationin the speed produced on the drive wheel of the speed-changingmechanism. The power imparted by the motor I6 passes through thespeed-changing device and rotates a wheel 2|. The Wheel 2! is providedwith a plurality of recesses or openings into which may be placed pins22. The wheel 2| is so formed that the pins 22 may be set at anyintervals about the circumference of the wheel, or so that any number ofpins may be employed. The pins 22 are adapted, upon rotation of thewheel 2!, to move a spring arm 23 carrying the contact point 2 against asubstantially stationary post 25 having a contact point 26. The springarm 23 and the post 25 are each connected to electric conductors 27 and28 which form one part of an electrical circuit, the other part beingthrough the electric conductor 29. These conductors are attached to asolenoid 3| and upon closing of the contact points 24 and 26 thesolenoid 3| of the 3-way valve, 2 port valve solenoid becomes energizedand raises the valve stem contained in the valve 33.

From any suitable source, hydraulic or air pressure is supplied to theline 34 and passes through a pressure-reducing or regulating device 35to a line 36 connected to the inlet 4'! of the 3- Way valve 33. Asuitable gauge 3'! may be placed on the line 36 for indicating thepressure head on the line. One of the outlet ports 38 of the 3-way valve33 leads through a supply into a cylinder head 39 which is connected tothe cylinder l5. With the upward or return stroke of piston M spenthydraulic or air pressure in cylinder I5 is forced back through cylinderhead 39, to port 44 and is exhausted from outlet 38. It is to beunderstood that any suitable type of 3-way, solenoid operated valve maybe employed, for instance, type P3DX Asco valves and related types.Suitably retained on the stationary support are shoulders 4| and 42 towhich shoulders and the cross-head II are connected tension springs 43which exert a pull on the cross-head l l in an upward direction suchthat upon release of the air pressure from the cylinder IS the cross- 75head II is raised. By means of an adjustable back pressure escapementvalve 44 the air or hydraulic pressure from the cylinder l5 may beregulatedin such a manner that the movement of the piston in an upwarddirection by the pull of the springs 43 may be regulated to any desiredspeed. The cylinder I5 is also provided with a valve which is placed onthe side of the piston head [4 opposite to the source of appliedpressure and acts as a dash-pot or means for controlling the speed ofthe piston in a downward direction- By regulating the valves 44 and 45,the piston may be caused, if desired, to move slowly in an upwarddirection and substantially instantly in a downward direction.

In operation of the device, the yarn is led from the spinning jets (notshown) through port 2 and guide eye 6, then around the constantly anduniformly rotating feed roll 3 to the take-up package. The motor l6causes the wheel 2! to rotate, if desired, at a variable speed, whichcauses the pin 22 to effect an opening and closing of the switch formedby the contact points 24 and 26, thus operating the solenoid 3| which inturn operates the 3-way valve 33. The operation of the 3-way valveeffects the pressure and release of pressure alternately in the cylinderhead 39, causing the reciprocation of the guide eyes 6. When the guideeyes 6 are slowly raised at a uniform speed, the drawing action effectedby the feed roll 3 produces a uniform pull or stretching of thefilaments from the spinning jets, forming a yarn of substantiallyuniform denier. Upon closing of the switch formed by the contact points24 and 26 the solenoid is energized and operates the 3-way valve,injecting an impulse of pressure into the cylinder head 39, forcing thepiston head I4 in a downward direction. By regulating the valve 45 andthe applied pressure, the guide eyes 6 may be caused to move in adownward direction at a very high speed. The fast movement of the guideeyes 6 in a downward direction creates a slack in the yarn between thefeed roll 3 and the spinning jet, thus reducing momentarily the drawingor stretching action on the yarn, effecting a slub or heavy denierincrement in the yarn. Upon release of the spring arm 23 by the pins 22the solenoid is de-energized and operates to cause the piston to moveupwardly and the springs 43 will slowly raise the guide eyes 6. Byregulating the valves 44 and 45 the guide eyes may also be caused tomake a fast up-stroke producing a very thin section of yarn and a slowdown stroke producing normal yarn.

By employing this device, the speed of the reciprocating guide eyes 6may be adjusted so that there is a slow, steady and uniform drawing orstretching of the yarn over that period of the yarn which is of smalldenier and, unlike the results obtained, by the use of prior devices,there is produced no section having extremely thin places effected by afast pulling action after the slub on the yarn has been formed.

If desired, the device may be adjusted in such a manner that it producesa yarn having a uniform small denier section 46 and a large deniersection 41 with a relatively abrupt change 48 from the small deniersection to the large denier section.

The spacing of the pins 22 or the size of the contacting portion of thepins 22 may be an arrangement whereby there are produced slubs of equallength or slubs of varying length and whereby there are produced equallengths or varying lengths of yarn in which no slubs are formed.Furthermore, the wheel 2| may be rotated by means of elliptical gears orother speedchanging mechanism such that the speed of the wheel 2| isconstantly or irregularly varying. The method of driving the wheel 2| ata varying speed and having the pins 22 spaced at varying intervals onsaid wheel, produces slubs on the yarn at random intervals.

-Where the spinning cabinet or metier is of considerable length andequipped with a large number ofyarn-forming jets, there may be providedacross the length of the spinning cabinet a plurality of solenoids, thesolenoids all operat ing through the same electrical circuit, such thatuniform reciprocation of the head H is produced throughout the entiremachine. By regulating the speedof the wheel 2! and the feed roll 3,yarn may be produced having any desired change in denier, for instance,yarn may be formed having a ratio between thin and thick places, 1 to 11 to 2, l to 4, 1 to 20 or other ratios, while the intervals betweenslubs and the length of the slubs may beregulated by the spacing andsize of pins 22 and/or the length of the stroke of the piston l4.

It is to be understood that any desired number of devices may bearranged for simultaneous operation on the filaments or threads producedby a plurality of jets or nozzles in a single metier or spinningcabinet. Thus, in a small metier or spinning cabinet the head Il mayextend across the full length of the metier or spinning cabinet and beoperated by a single piston, or on larger metiers the head H may extendacross the full length of the cabinet and be driven by a pistonoperating at each end of the head II.

The foregoing apparatus may be applied to the treatment of artificialfilaments produced by the dry or evaporative method as shown in thedrawing or by the wet or coagulation method by obvious rearrangement ofthe parts.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the deviceshown in the drawing is merely given by way of illustration and manyalterations or substitutions may be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a,reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed. and to be lowered abruptly, saidmeans including a source of fluid pressure and means for controlling theoperation of said fluid pressure.

2. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure and a solenoid for controlling theoperation of said fluid pressure.

3. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a cylinder in which said fluidpressure is adapted to operate and a solenoid for controlling theentrance of said fluid pressure into said cylinder.

4. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a cylinder in which said fluidpressure is adapted to operate, and a valve and a solenoid forcontrolling the entrance of said fluid pressure into said cylinder, saidsolenoid being adapted to open and close said valve.

5. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a solenoid for controlling theoperation of said fluid pressure and means for opening and closing thecircuit of said solenoid at a predetermined rate.

6. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a solenoid for controlling theoperation of said fluid pressure and rotary means for opening andclosing the circuit of said solenoid.

'7. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier 'along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for callsing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a solenoid for controlling theoperation of said fluid pressure and means for controlling the operationof said solenoid, said solenoid controlling means comprising a springswitch and a rotary member having a projection thereon adapted tocontact with said spring switch at a predetermined rate to close thesolenoid circuit.

8. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a cylinder in which said fluidpressure is adapted to operate, a valve attached to said cylinder, asolenoid for controlling the entrance of said fluid pressure into saidcylinder through said valve, said solenoid being adapted to open andclose said valve, and rotary means for making and breaking the solenoidcircuit.

9. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments havingappreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising areciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are causedto pass and means for causing said reciprocating member to rise slowlyat a substantially constant speed and to be lowered abruptly, said meansincluding a source of fluid pressure, a cylinder in which said fluidpressure is adapted to operate, a piston in said cylinder attached tosaid reciprocating member, a valve attached to said cylinder, a solenoidfor controlling the entrance of said fluid pressure into said cylinderthrough said valve, said solenoid being adapted to open and close saidvalve, and rotary means for opening and closing the solenoid circuit.

CANFIELD HUTSON.

